Coaching staff update: Army’s Nate Woody to be Cincinnati DC

Army defensive coordinator Nate Woody is leaving West Point after six seasons to take the same position at Cincinnati of the Big 12 Conference.

Woody, 65, reunites with Cincinnati head coach Scott Satterfield. He was Satterfield’s defensive coordinator at Appalachian State for five seasons from 2013-17.

Woody’s Army defense led the nation in yards allowed per game in his first season in 2020 and finished in the Top 15 in that statistic twice more in 2024 (No. 8) and 2021 (No. 15). The Black Knights tied for fourth in the country and points allowed per game (15.5) and held 10 of 14 opponents to 14 points or less in 2024.

In 12 Commander in Chief games (Navy and Air Force), Woody’s defenses allowed 12.2 points per game, including limited to Falcons to only three points in 2023 and 2024.

This will be Woody’s second time as a Power Four defensive coordinator. He was Georgia Tech’s DC in 2018.

It’s unclear if Woody, who has been a defensive coordinator in 25 of the last 26 seasons at the FCS and FBS level, will take any Army assistants with him to Cincinnati. Army recently announced the hiring of safeties coach Scot Sloan, who has coached with Woody at West Point and Appalachian State.

Cincinnati’s 2025 coaching staff had former Army linebackers coach Cortney Braswell as its co-defensive coordinator/linebackers coach.

If Army stays in house for Woody’s replacement, cornerbacks coach and pass game coordinator Daryl Dixon should be considered. Dixon completed his 10th season at Army. He coached outside linebackers his first three seasons at West Point before moving to cornerbacks.